More than 700 students and staff at the University of Helsinki staged a coordinated walkout on Wednesday, joining nationwide demonstrations demanding an end to Finnish universities\u2019 academic cooperation with Israeli institutions. Similar protests were held in Tampere, Turku, Kuopio, Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4, Oulu and Rovaniemi, marking one of the largest student mobilizations in Finland this year.<\/p>\n
Organized by the Students for Palestine movement, protesters called for universities to sever all institutional ties with Israeli partners, particularly those under the EU\u2019s Horizon Europe research program. Demonstrators gathered at the University of Helsinki\u2019s main building at 13:00, with participants arriving from all campuses as well as from Aalto University and the University of the Arts Helsinki.<\/p>\n
Turnout included at least 20 participants at Aalto and 40 at the University of the Arts. Tampere saw an estimated 250 protesters, while around 50 joined the walkout in Kuopio.<\/p>\n
Aatu Karjalainen, spokesperson for Students for Palestine, said demonstrations across multiple cities reflect mounting frustration. The group argues that Finnish universities should not collaborate with institutions linked to Israeli state policies.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt this point, leadership continues to ignore its ethical responsibility. We demand that all ties with Israeli universities be cut as long as they are involved in occupation and apartheid policies,\u201d Karjalainen said.<\/p>\n
At the heart of the protest is the University of Helsinki\u2019s participation in 15 Horizon Europe research projects involving Israeli institutions. Activists want the university to withdraw from these partnerships.<\/p>\n
Responding to the criticism, the university\u2019s Director of Administration, Esa H\u00e4m\u00e4l\u00e4inen, told Yle that participation in EU-funded research falls under academic freedom, adding that researchers may refuse collaboration individually but the university does not enforce institutional bans.<\/p>\n
Movement member Inkeri Tuikkanen accused university leaders of \u201cinvoking academic freedom while Gaza\u2019s education system is being destroyed,\u201d arguing that ethical responsibility must guide institutional decisions.<\/p>\n
The University of Helsinki Student Union and the Helsinki University Researchers\u2019 Association have also backed calls for an academic boycott. A previous protest in May led to the suspension of a student exchange programme with Israeli universities, though no further actions have been taken since.<\/p>\n
Students for Palestine Finland says Wednesday\u2019s demonstrations are part of a broader national push to end institutional cooperation with Israeli universities, pledging to continue their campaign until all Finnish institutions withdraw from such partnerships.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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